RCA Blog

Featured: Causelink for EDU expanding in 2019

In the spring of 2018 Sologic started a pilot program called Causelink for EDU. The new program provided universities with free access to Causelink RCA software and eRCA Fundamentals online learning. The goals for the program are to expose students to software, provide instructors with instructional tools and oversight, and receive feedback on Causelink software.

Abstraction Levels

December 13, 2018

When an adverse event occurs that we’d like to keep from happening again, we conduct an investigation. In a Sologic RCA, we create a logic diagram with the “problem” on the left and preceding causes flowing out to the right. This diagram is not the problem, but an abstracted approximation (model) of the problem based upon conditional “if-then” logic.

When Lessons Learnt are Lessons Lost

December 07, 2018

Over 400 years ago, Captain James Lancaster, an English sailor, performed a benchmark experiment in his pursuit of a prevention for a disease called scurvy. Scurvy was one of the biggest problems at sea at that time, killing or debilitating many individual sailors as well as rendering the operational capability of a crew so diminished that the remaining sailors struggled to man their ships safely.

The 'Big Seven' pitfalls when problem solving (and how to avoid them)

December 03, 2018

All organisations have problems and some of those problems are worth solving. Clearly
some teams and some people are better at solving problems than others, so what pitfalls
can you avoid in order to improve your problem solving skills and outcomes?

Risk vs. Return

November 13, 2018

I pick up sharp things when I see them. I’m talking about nails, screws and wire – not glass. Whether I’m on my bike riding around town or walking down the street, I always take the time to stop and pluck any sort of sharp thing up off the ground. Having had my share of flat tires, I know how disruptive they can be. So I gladly do my small part in trying to prevent them before they happen.

Which Boss Are You? Premier League or NFL?

October 01, 2018

Back in 2013/14 the English Premier League reached an all-time low. Incredibly, the average managerial tenure at a club sunk to just 1.84 seasons per active manager. And if you had removed Arsene Wenger’s 18 seasons at Arsenal that figure would have plummeted to just 1.05 seasons per head. Just try to imagine any other multi-billion industry where the COO’s of the 20 leading firms had an average of just 1 year in charge.

Causal Patterns and Five Examples

August 21, 2018

Those of us that do root cause analysis for a living also identify patterns that make our jobs easier, albeit with marginally less screaming and crying. Although we teach cause and effect analysis as being a process of deconstructing effects into their individual causes, that’s not always how we do it professionally. We often find that we’ve been down a certain path before.

Solutions Are Terrible Things to Waste

March 28, 2018

It’s a common scenario – something serious happens, triggering a root cause analysis. The team finds an hour or two to complete the RCA. The meeting concludes with the RCA 80% finished, including a nice list of solutions. Then...

RCA Program Dashboard

February 27, 2018

RCA – Past, Present, and Future (a three-part series) Part 3

January 18, 2018

In parts 1 and 2 of this 3-part installment, I discussed the history of RCA up to the current state. I broke up this history into different eras; the beginning of modern structured problem solving, the “Guru Era” whereby early adopters improved upon existing tools, and the introduction of RCA-specific software. So what's next?

I'm in love with 4.0

September 18, 2017

I’m sure you've experienced the strong sense of euphoria often felt after starting a new relationship. You can’t stop thinking about this new person and they help fill your world with a kaleidoscope of sounds and colors. You can’t imagine yourself being happy with anyone else. Well, I’m feeling that way about Causelink Enterprise Version 4.0! Here’s why...

RCA – Past, Present, and Future (a three-part series) Part 2

August 16, 2017

Let’s travel back three or four decades to the period of main-frame computers, pocket protectors, and ashtrays in the office. Engineers at the DOE, NASA, and a variety of other organizations were working on problems of enormous complexity. The failures were therefore equally complex. But persistent failure was simply not an option, so they developed new ways of thinking to help manage this complexity. Not surprisingly, they discovered deficiencies in these methods.

RCA – Past, Present, and Future (a three-part series) Part 1

May 02, 2017

An attendee at a public seminar recently asked if I’d compare and contrast RCA methods. I can appreciate this question. I mean seriously – put yourself in the position of someone tasked with identifying an RCA method. How do you choose? What would be the basis of your choice?

January 11, 2017

Tuning out the Noise

November 29, 2016

You aren’t going to completely stop the cycle of reactivity with one RCA, but you will begin to slow it down. That’s a start. Build on it. Things will get better. Who knows, it may even leave you with enough time to actually watch your daughters game as opposed to just being there physically and spending most of your time on your phone responding to emails from people who want to know when the latest problem will be resolved.

Causelink Incident Timeline Beta Release

September 13, 2016

During focus group sessions we learned that not only should the timeline be interactive and support the editing of details for each event, but there should also be a way to add these events as causes on the cause and effect chart. We also learned how the timeline fits into user workflow during an incident investigation, knowledge which helped in making decisions about navigation and user interaction.

Use ROI To Improve Your Root Cause Analysis Program

August 29, 2016

While the money you spend to investigate the problem and implement solutions is real, your returns equate to a reduction in risk. In other words, the problem cost you a lot of money and now you are going to spend a little more in order to reduce the risk of the problem happening again.

How Roxy Helped Release Causelink 3.0

May 19, 2016

My favorite part of this release has been reviewing the software, mobile phone in hand, while strolling around my backyard. The neighbors must have thought I was crazy as I talked through the “hazardous spill” I was “investigating”, while uploading photos and videos of our new puppy, Roxy.

RCA Programs - A How-To Guide

March 31, 2016

Let’s start this conversation by defining a problem as an event resulting in a significant deviation from our goals and objectives. How many events fitting this description occur over any given week (month, year) at your company?

Monitoring vs. Root Cause Analysis – Is There a Unicorn System?

March 03, 2016

Automated root cause analysis systems seemingly provide the Problem Manager with his/her “problem unicorn” – a system that collects your data, analyzes your problems, and identifies solutions, all without human participation! Unfortunately, much like the mythical unicorn of lore, this system does not exist in reality.

The RCA Phoenix

February 19, 2016

Like the phoenix of Greek mythology that emerges from the ashes of its predecessor, Root Cause Analysis programs have been undergoing similar transformations recently. We examine the causes of program failure during the recession, and provide a roadmap to get you back on track.span>

February 18, 2016

A Great Year for RCA Software

December 16, 2015

This holiday season we want to say thank you to everyone who has provided feedback – you know who you are! Thanks to you, we’ve focused our software development team on the features that provide the most value, while also experimenting with new technologies that will drive future innovations in problem solving. Here is a look back at the highlights from 2015.

Home Grown—What RCA Investigations should we lead?

November 28, 2015

“Should I have one of my people lead this investigation, or should I farm it out to a 3rd party?” The answer depends on a few things including concerns about liability, desired turnaround time, availability of skilled, in-house facilitators, internal politics, the need for impartiality and budget.

Faster Chart Building

November 16, 2015

Leading a productive and efficient cause and effect chart building session is important, especially if you have a large team, or you are pressed for time. The following is an effective technique you can use to speed up the chart construction process and keep your team engaged.

Early Feedback from the Causelink Mobile Beta Release

October 28, 2015

In late summer 2015 we re-started development with the following goals for the Mobile Beta version: 1) Prove that voice to text makes data entry faster. 2) Improve the user interaction when uploading photos and videos. 3) Make action tracking and completion of items easier.

Cognitive Computing Improves RCA

July 06, 2015

We can now leverage Watson's powerful capabilities to analyze data inside Causelink Enterprise and uncover patterns in the data that were otherwise hidden, or would have taken many hours of expert analysis to uncover.

Beware of the Invisible Man

May 29, 2015

Beware, he’s out there. A righteously bad dude, by all accounts. He holds everyone back. The guy who doesn’t support RCA or your efforts to make improvements. You might know him. I find that few can speak a name though (Lord Voldemort, perhaps?). I usually hear him referred to generically as “Leadership”.

Improve Audit Results with Root Cause Analysis

April 23, 2015

Whether you work in EHS, quality, reliability, IT, or another area, having an effective root cause analysis program will help you achieve greater scores in your audits, as well as to helps you to resolve any negative audit findings.

Wait, we’re supposed to IMPLEMENT the solutions?

March 31, 2015

What good is a solution if it’s not put to use? I’ve witnessed good Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations with great solution ideas that aren’t effective because the implementation failed. The reason you build the cause and effect chart is to discover causes that you can control and/or eliminate.

The Causes of Air Pollution in the Salt Lake Valley

March 02, 2015

Brad Stone wanted to utilize Sologic root cause analysis to help his team understand the causes of air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley, specifically during inversions that occur in the winter months. His hope was that bringing everything together in a cause and effect chart would provide his team with insights into how to go about identifying statistical correlations through big data analysis.

Using Root Cause Analysis to Understand and Replicate Your Successes

February 25, 2015

As a Root Cause Analyst, I often find that Root Cause Analysis (RCA) has a negative connotation. My experience tells me that this is often because those who have some familiarity with RCA think that you can only apply the process when something has gone wrong.

Maximize RCA Results with Causelink Enterprise

February 17, 2015

Causelink Enterprise helps teams get more benefit out of the problem investigation work they are already doing. With resources tight and a renewed focus on improving safety, quality, and reliability, this software helps investigation teams in the following ways...

Prevent RCA Skill Erosion

January 29, 2015

The most effective way to prevent RCA skill erosion is to plan ahead. Before you train your people in any RCA methodology, have a structured plan for how and when they will be expected to use the process.

January 21, 2015

Ebola Crisis

December 05, 2014

Taking on a worldwide health issue such as the Ebola crisis is a daunting task. So many voices have said so much about this subject already – what could those of us at Sologic possibly add to the discussion?

Just a routine operation

October 31, 2014

Downsizing – Is it playing a role with today’s incidents?

September 15, 2014

Economists tell us we are 5 years beyond when the recession officially ended (I find this debatable). Anyway, companies have undergone dramatic changes to remain profitable. Supply chains have been squeezed, working capital cut, and cheaper materials sourced. Discretionary spending has taken severe hits across the board. Despite most organizations already being ‘leaned out’, for many managers, headcount reduction is one of the only levers left to cut costs further.

What’s the Value of RCA Training?

August 29, 2014

What kind of payback can you expect on your RCA training investment? Our clients have provided us the following data over the years based on hundreds of RCA’s they have shared with us: Average savings per RCA performed is approximately $25,000. Average return on investment (ROI) per RCA exceeds 1,000% (includes the cost of training, team RCA time and solutions)

Causelink Enterprise v2.0 Alpha 2 limited release

June 09, 2014

We have recently released the second Alpha for Causelink Enterprise Version 2.0. This internal Sologic release (North America and International Partners) is a significant milestone for our development team because all RCA chart and report functionality is now feature complete.

No Time For RCA?

May 27, 2014

A common theme I hear among clients is that they see the value in performing high-quality RCAs on their problems, but they lack the time to do a proper RCA. As a result, they often resort to shooting from the hip, or at best, using a basic approach such as 5-Why’s or Ishikawa diagrams just to deal with the situation and move on as quickly as possible.

Why Risk Management Fails...

May 07, 2014

In the current climate of uncertain economic conditions and constrained demand, businesses that wish to maintain and grow profits need to have dynamic processes for managing the risks associated with achieving their stated strategies and objectives.

Facilitation Tips – The Benefits of Critical Thinking in RCA Team Dynamics

April 16, 2014

When I conduct root cause analysis training and investigations, I notice how much the team dynamics play a role in the process, and thus in the outcomes, of the RCA exercises and facilitations. One factor that has a particular impact on those team dynamics is the atmosphere of critical thinking fostered by the company leadership and the RCA facilitator.

How Can Root Cause Analysis Help You as a Leader?

March 19, 2014

Root Cause Analysis is a process that can assist you, as a leader, to increase your knowledge and understanding -- to engage your employees and smooth your journey to transformational leadership in many ways.

February 10, 2014

There are three key aspects to warehouse health and safety: looking after people, designing processes with safety in mind, and developing a lasting safety culture. Good health and safety management, and safe working practices help keep people safe in a warehouse environment.

Use Root Cause Analysis to Improve Proposal Win Rates

February 12, 2013

Many of our clients invest substantial time and money into developing proposals. After a bid is lost, people are usually scrambling to chase the next RFP opportunity. A Sologic client who's involved in many large proposal processes, recently pointed out that companies could improve win rates by approaching lost bids like they would most other problems...with RCA.

October 24, 2012

Change is fascinating and comes in many different forms. Look around you right now – you can see change in action, bundled up in packages we call “events”. An event is simply a unit of change – an excerpt from broader reality. A pine needle falling from a tree, steam rising off a hot cup of coffee, the door of a car opening and closing again… the seemingly ordinary, yet ultimately chaotic, march of entropy towards some distant state of equilibrium – the ultimate form of peace and quiet.

September 12, 2012

A recent Forbes article states that “74% of the workforce would consider leaving their current job if another offer came along”. Whether you are looking for a new opportunity or not, having solid problem-solving skills will benefit your current organization immediately, which is a definite plus.

What makes a good root cause analysis facilitator?

April 11, 2012

The reality is, the best choice is sometimes counterintuitive at first glance, so organizations often choose people who aren’t the best fit. Although it might take a little more thought and time to identify the right RCA facilitators, rather than jumping to the easy or typical choices, the pay-off will come in many ways...

Hesitant to Facilitate a Root Cause Analysis? These Skills Will Help.

March 23, 2012

When we ask our root cause analysis students to share what part of conducting an RCA might feel the most uncertain to them, though they hesitate to admit it, we often hear that it’s the thought of facilitating a group of people through the process.

Six Steps to Solving Problems Proactively

September 29, 2011

Root cause analysis is most well-known as a tool to react to problems after they've occurred, but RCA is a powerful proactive tool -- identifying preventive actions that help reduce the risk of potential future problems from occurring. Here are some highlights from our presentation on this topic at UBM Canon ASQ Quality Expo 2011.

Shifting from "Cost Center" to "Value Center"

May 10, 2011

Many of the disciplines we work with -- safety, quality, reliability, IT, supply chain -- are considered overhead to their organization. But here's a fresh perspective about how to shift them to value centers, and prove it.